Lekhwiya claimed first blood in the all-Qatar AFC Champions League Round of 16 meeting with former winners Al Sadd on Tuesday with goals from Sebastian Soria and Youssef Msakni helping Michael Laudrup’s side to a 2-1 first-leg win.
 
Hassan Al Haydos pulled one back late in a frenetic first half for Al Sadd as former AFC Player of the Year Khalfan Ibrahim was forced to watch the majority of the game from the bench as he continues his return from injury. 

Al Sadd went into the game in a confident frame of mind having won three of the last four encounters between the two clubs in the 2014-15 season, including a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals of the Emir’s Cup last week, but previous form counted for little in the AFC Champions League. 

Lekhwiya took the lead as early as the 13^th minute when Uruguay-born forward Soria latched on to Vladimir Weiss’s ball across the six-yard box, stabbing home from close range. 

Soon after Soria went close to doubling his side’s lead, only to fire into the side netting, but within minutes Lekhwiya added to their tally thanks to Msakni, with the Tunisian running in on goal in the 36^th minute before slotting his effort beyond Saad Al Sheeb.

Al Sadd, however, responded immediately when Al Haydos deftly controlled Abdelkarim Hassan’s long ball out of defence with his right before slipping the ball home with his left.

The goal gave the 2011 ACL champions a lift and, after the resumption, Al Sadd went looking for the equaliser. 

Nine minutes into the half, Hassan’s pile driver from long range only just cleared the crossbar while three minutes later former Guangzhou Evergrande forward Muriqui sent his attempt just over the goal from outside the penalty area. 

Msakni shot into the side-netting with just Al Sadd goalkeeper Al Sheeb in the 64^th minute when he should have done better and, three minutes later, Ibrahim finally made an appearance when he came off the bench to replace Grafite. 

With three minutes remaining Msakni could have restored Lekhwiya’s two-goal cushion ahead of next week’s second leg at their own stadium, but he pulled his effort across goal. 

And a last gasp reflex save from Lekhwiya goalkeeper Amine Lecomte somehow saw him push Hassan’s powerful free kick from 40 yards onto the post after it dipped and swerved over the visiting defence.